A novel approach on ionic liquid-based poly(vinyl alcohol) proton conductive polymer electrolytes for fuel cell applications

The preparation of proton conducting-polymer electrolytes based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/ammonium acetate (CH3COONH4)/1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BmImCl) was done by solution casting technique. The ionic conductivity increased with ionic liquid mass loadings. The highest ionic conductivity of (5.74 ± 0.01) mS cm−1 was achieved upon addition of 50 wt% of BmImCl. The thermal characteristic of proton conducting-polymer electrolytes is enhanced with doping of ionic liquid by showing higher initial decomposition temperature. The most conducting polymer electrolyte is stable up to 250 °C. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) confirmed the complexation between PVA, CH3COONH4 and BmImCl. Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) was fabricated. This electrochemical cell achieved the maximum power density of 18 mW cm−2 at room temperature.